===================================================
DIGITAL MEDIA WIRE -- April 14, 2003
===================================================
To Subscribe For Free: http://www.digitalmediawire.com
o WSJ: Microsoft Also Possible Suitor for Vivendi's Universal Music Group
o Game Development Software Firm Intrinsic Graphics Shuts Down
o Clear Channel, EBay to Sell Concert Ticket Service Memberships Online
o Sony to Release New PlayStation 2 Design in Japan With Improved DVD Play
o Paid Search Firm Overture Expanding European Operations
> DMW Publications: March Law and Policy Report
> Featured Section: Discreet cleaner XL
o Briefly Noted: Yahoo - NHL, Western Europe - broadband adoption, MTV -
Virgin Mobile USA, XM Satellite Radio, Square Enix U.S.A. - "Final Fantasy
XI," RealNetworks - Pearl Jam webcast, Aspyr Media - "Harry Potter and the
Chamber of Secrets," Bitstream - Electronic Arts, M-gambling
_____________________________________________
> Events: Games & Mobile Forum: April 28 | NYC
> Marketplace: HP Workstation for a PC Price, Game Industry Report,
iTV Chronicle, Interest-Based Navigation
Full Classifieds located beneath "Briefly Noted" section below.
To post a Classified Ad:
http://www.digitalmediawire.com/mainpostingpage.html
or contact Tinzar Than at tinzar@digitalmediawire.com
_____________________________________________
o WSJ: Microsoft Also Possible Suitor for Vivendi's Universal Music Group
New York -- The Wall Street Journal reported on Monday that, in addition
to reports that Apple Computer was interested in buying debt-laden
Vivendi's Universal Music record label group, officials at UMG have also
approached Microsoft as a possible buyer. The Journal cited sources saying
that Interscope Geffen A&M label chief Jimmy Iovine has put out feelers to
see if Microsoft would be a friendly investor, possibly interested in a
management-led buyout of the music unit. Vivendi Universal, which is
saddled with billions in debt, is currently looking to unburden itself of
its entertainment assets, which include Universal Studios and Vivendi
Universal Games.
http://makeashorterlink.com/?D2B415534
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=technologyNews&storyID=2562475
_____________________________________________
o Game Development Software Firm Intrinsic Graphics Shuts Down
Mountain View, Calif. -- Intrinsic Graphics, a developer of software that
streamlines video game development, has shut down and is looking to sell
its assets, CNET News.com reported on Monday. The Mountain View,
Calif.-based company, founded in 1999, had backers including video game
giant Sony; customers of its software included game developers Sega and
Activision. The company's 32 employees were laid off on Friday. Intrinsic
CEO Paul Thomas told News.com that the company has been approached by
several potential buyers, and hopes that the successful bidder will
maintain its product line and customers.
http://news.com.com/2100-1043-996627.html?tag=cd_mh
http://www.intrinsic.com
_____________________________________________
o Clear Channel, EBay to Sell Concert Ticket Service Memberships Online
Houston -- Clear Channel Communications, one of the nation's largest
concert promoters, announced on Monday that it will begin selling
memberships to its GetAccess program -- which offers special ticketing
deals on over 750 concerts it promotes annually -- through the EBay online
auction service. Four-month memberships to GetAccess will be offered on
EBay through both fixed-price fees and auctions, and will give purchasers
access to buy one/get one free offers, skip-the-line benefits at general
admission shows, pre-sale offers, savings on movie tickets and rentals,
and theme park savings. As part of the deal, San Jose, Calif.-based EBay
will also become the sponsor of 17 Clear Channel Entertainment
amphitheaters across the U.S., and will conduct promotions that offer
music fans various prizes both on-site and online.
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/030414/145278_1.html
http://www.clearchannel.com
http://www.ebay.com
_____________________________________________
o Sony to Release New PlayStation 2 Design in Japan With Improved DVD Play
Tokyo -- Sony Computer Entertainment on Monday announced it will introduce
a redesigned PlayStation 2 into the Japanese market on May 15, offering
improved DVD playback and several other changes to the console, which to
date has sold over 50 million units worldwide. Sony did not say whether it
will offer the new console in the U.S. or Europe. The new PlayStation 2
design will now include support for playback of recordable DVDs. It will
also eliminate the IEEE 1394 "FireWire" port, and feature a new cooling
system that Sony said will get rid of 75 percent of fan noise.
http://biz.yahoo.com/djus/030414/0346000638_1.html
http://news.com.com/2100-1043-996748.html?tag=cd_mh
_____________________________________________
o Paid Search Firm Overture Expanding European Operations
Dublin -- Overture Services, a provider of commercial search services on
the Internet, said that it has expanded its European headquarters in
Dublin, building on its position in the U.S, the U.K., Germany, France and
Japan. The company also plans to launch its service in South Korea later
this month. Pasadena, Calif.-based Overture said Monday it plans to expand
into Italy later in the second quarter, followed by Austria, the
Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland and Scandinavia before the end of the
year. The Dublin headquarters will employ a multi-national workforce of
about 100 editorial, customer service, accounting and technology
employees.
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/030414/145358_1.html
http://www.overture.com
_____________________________________________
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
==========================================
DMW Publications: March Law & Policy Report
==========================================
Contact tinzar@digitalmediawire.com or call 323-464-0793 to order your
copies.
To purchase directly, go to:
http://kb.digitalmediawire.com/marketplace.php
Digital Media Law & Policy Report - New Issue
Must-read publication on legal and policy matters related to digital
media. Thirty-two pages of case summaries, news and analysis, policy
updates, court filings, and exclusive interviews with legal counsel and
business leaders.
Published monthly. March issue on sale now!
**Special Reduced Rates available for a limited time**
Price: $19.00 Per Issue | $195.00 Annual Subscription
http://kb.digitalmediawire.com/marketplace.php
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
_____________________________________________
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
==================
FEATURED SECTION
==================
Featured Section posting at:
http://www.digitalmediawire.com/featuredpostingpage.htm
Discreet cleaner XL- Play High Quality Video & Audio Anywhere
Introducing Discreet cleaner(TM) XL. Your high quality video and audio now
plays anywhere. With a powerful new workflow, including watch folders and
180 presets, you can work smarter and faster. Our professional audio and
video filters let you fine-tune your content, so you can show the world
what you've got.
BUY NOW!
http://blmkt.dsi-enews.net/bleu/btrk/?dsid=1696&typ=C
Check out cleaner XL software today. Free trial version at:
http://blmkt.dsi-enews.net/bleu/btrk/?dsid=1697&typ=C
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
_____________________________________________
Briefly Noted:
(Sunnyvale, Calif.) Yahoo has added video highlights from National Hockey
League playoff games to its recently launched, subscription-based Yahoo
Platinum service. Unlike Yahoo's recent deal with the NCAA and CBS, which
allowed it to webcast live video and audio of men's college basketball
tournament games, the company's deal with the NHL does not include live
streaming coverage. The Yahoo Platinum service offers content from Fox,
CBS, ABC, NASCAR and other sources in packages starting at $9.95 per
month.
http://platinum.yahoo.com
http://news.com.com/2100-1026-996576.html?tag=cd_mh
(London) According to a recent survey conducted by eMarketer, more than 86
million homes worldwide will connected to broadband by the end of this
year, and more than 41 million homes will be connected in Western Europe
by 2005. In terms of broadband penetration, Western Europe lags just
behind the U.S., where 22 percent of all households enjoy broadband
Internet access.
http://shorterlink.com/?50PCH4
(New York) Viacom's MTV network announced on Monday the launch of *MTV
(Star-MTV), a wireless entertainment service created in conjunction with
wireless network operator Virgin Mobile USA. The service will offer
subscribers mobile "sneak peek" updates on programs and MTV.com games,
breaking stories from MTV News, video voting, audio postcards from music
and TV celebrities to send to friends, and other features. MTV will
additionally launch "Video Clash," a new program where Star-MTV wireless
voting is prominently featured.
http://www.mtv.com/onair/video_clash/
http://www.virginmobileusa.com
(Washington) XM Satellite Radio, a provider of nationwide,
satellite-delivered digital radio programming, announced on Monday that
last week it surpassed the one-half million subscriber mark. "The march to
one million subscribers this year begins today," said XM president and CEO
Hugh Panero. "In record industry parlance, with half-a- million
subscribers we have achieved 'Gold' status. Now we are on our way to
'Platinum'."
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/030414/dcm002_1.html
http://www.xmradio.com
(Los Angeles) Square Enix U.S.A., the North American publishing arm of
Japanese game developer Square Enix, announced on Monday that is accepting
applications for a public beta test of its upcoming title "Final Fantasy
XI" for PlayStation 2 and the PC. The title is a cross-platform, massively
multiplayer online game, meaning that players of the PlayStation 2 version
will compete against those playing via PC in the same online environment.
To date, the Final Fantasy franchise has sold over 44 million units
worldwide and spawned a digitally-animated feature film.
http://www.square-enix-usa.com/publicbeta/FFXI/index.html
(Seattle) Media delivery technology provider RealNetworks, in conjunction
with Sony Epic Records, on Monday will offer a free on-demand webcast of a
Pearl Jam private weekend concert recorded in Orlando, Florida. The
webcast will be available for viewing for 24 hours by users with the
company's RealOne Player installed on their computers.
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/030411/sff028_1.html
http://www.realone.com/pearljam
(Austin) Game developer Aspyr Media said on Monday that it has shipped a
Macintosh version of the game "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" to
retailers. Rights to develop a Mac version of the game, based on the novel
by J.K. Rowling, were licensed from Electronic Arts. The game was created
by Austin-based Westlake Interactive.
http://www.aspyr.com
http://www.westlakeinteractive.com
(Cambridge, Mass.) Bitstream, a developer of digital font technology, said
on Monday that game developer Electronic Arts has licensed its Font Fusion
font rendering engine, as well as a number of the company's fonts.
Massachusetts-based Bitstream's fonts have already appeared in EA titles
such as "NCAA March Madness 2003" and "MVP Baseball 2003."
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/030414/145032_1.html
http://www.bitstream.com
(Amsterdam) The Associated Press recently published a story on the growing
use of SMS text-messaging as a means of placing online wagers in Europe,
where "M-gambling" is both legal and growing in popularity. Current
estimates put annual M-gambling revenues at $50 million. "There aren't
specific laws that really forbid it here, so the lotteries have to push
regulators to either clarify the law or sort of nod and say it's OK,"
Tymen Selman, CEO mobile lottery technology firm Openlot, told AP. "In
most European countries, from a legal point of view it's not a problem."
http://www.wired.com/news/ebiz/0,1272,58461,00.html
_____________________________________________
===================
CLASSIFIEDS - JOBS
===================
To Post Jobs: http://www.digitalmediawire.com/jobpostingpage.htm
_____________________________________________
====================
CLASSIFIEDS - EVENTS
====================
To Post Events: http://www.digitalmediawire.com/eventpostingpage.htm
Digital Media Wire Presents...Games & Mobile Forum
April 2003, New York City
Focusing on games and mobile entertainment opportunities and business
models. Panel topics will include "The Battle to Control the Living Room:
Is the Game Industry Winning?", "Mobile Games: Business Models & New
Opportunities", "Legal & Policy Issues Impacting the Game Industry &
Mobile Entertainment", and "Home Networking: Technology for Modern Living
& Entertainment."
Door Tickets Price: $250. For Early Bird Specials, pre-register at:
http://kb.digitalmediawire.com/register.php?eventid=1025
_____________________________________________
==========================
CLASSIFIEDS - MARKETPLACE
==========================
To Post Marketplace:
http://www.digitalmediawire.com/marketplacepostingpage.htm
GET an HP Workstation for a PC Price
GET an HP Workstation for a PC Price, for a limited time only!
Jaw dropping Workstation performance at a PC price that will make you
smile. Systems include Windows 2000 Professional or Windows XP. Save on
Workstations Today.
Click now! http://blmkt.dsi-enews.net/bleu/btrk/?dsid=1584&typ=C
REGISTER to win an HP IPAQ Handheld PC, and share your business
workstations needs! Hurry! This offer ends April 30, 2003.
REGISTER now! http://blmkt.dsi-enews.net/bleu/btrk/?dsid=1585&typ=C
_____________________________________________
Game Industry Law & Policy Report
Special industry report covering law & policy matters impacting the game
industry. The 15-page report includes case summaries, news and analysis,
feature article and an exclusive interview with Doug Lowenstein,
President, Interactive Digital Software Association. Price: $19.00
http://kb.digitalmediawire.com/marketplace.php
_____________________________________________
For those who believe in ITV - "Interactive TV: The Definitive Chronicle"
Covering the period 2000 to the present, this sourcebook presents a
complete history of the news and events that have shaped the business of
iTV since the beginning of the 21st Century. Culled from countless
sources, including the Digital Media Wire database, this 175 pages PDF (on
CD) covers all of the major players as well as the legal and financial
issues that helped shape the industry. Key research and industry
projections as well as a host of facts, figures, resources and thousands
of iTV-related links are included. Price: $ 55.00.
http://kb.digitalmediawire.com/marketplace.php
_____________________________________________
Etronica helps you "Find the Good Stuff FAST!"
Etronica's unique software toolset enables "Interest Based Navigation" of
Digital Content. The Patent Pending software tools can be incorporated
directly into content websites and portals, installed in TV settop boxes
or integrated as OEM components. The tools drive the automatic tagging,
indexing, and categorization of text. A recommendation engine suggests
highly relevant new information to users as they interact. Personalized
advertising and commerce offerings can also be automatically served.
Contact us to learn more: info@etronica.com
http://www.etronica.com
_____________________________________________
Digital Media Wire, Inc. leverages its integrated media network to provide
exceptional value to individuals and companies determined to capitalize on
the convergence of media, entertainment and technology. Digital Media
Wire, the first in a series of business-intelligence publications,
delivers original daily briefings on the business, legal and financial
developments shaping digital media.
Digital Media Wire is part of the Tech Wire Media Group, an international
network of publications that includes Potomac Tech Wire, New England Tech
Wire, Southeast Tech Wire, Bay Area Tech Wire, Tri-state Tech Wire and
European Tech Wire. The network reaches more than 62,000 individuals from
over 70 countries worldwide each business day.
Upcoming publications, events & information at:
http://www.digitalmediawire.com
Questions, Comments & Suggestions to:
tinzar@digitalmediawire.com
News Tips, Scoops & Press Releases to:
editorial@digitalmediawire.com
_____________________________________________
Editor: Mark Hefflinger
Chief Executive Officer: Ned Sherman
VP, Marketing and Events: Tinzar Than
Copyright 2003 Digital Media Wire, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
|
